Festival of Sports
On Saturday 26 April, Keble College welcomed back its sporting alumni, affectionately known as the ‘Ghosts’, for the annual Festival of Sports, a head-to-head competition between Keblites past and present, showcasing the Keble community spirit. Some highlights of the day included:
Tennis
Under the leadership of David Smith (1972 English), the Ghosts team served a win, claiming victory in the Men’s and the Mixed Doubles. The College side prevailed in the Women’s Doubles but, overall, experience triumphed on the courts.
Rugby
The rugby match, played at the University Parks, ended with a 29-29 draw. It was a physical and fast-paced contest, with pride on the line and plenty of quality rugby played by both teams.
Football
2025 saw another year of strong Ghosts representation, ably organised by Andy Airey (1985 Engineering), who rallied a sizeable and spirited squad. In the first game of the day, the Ghosts were unlucky to lose 1–0, with the College goalkeeper putting on a superb display, and the alumni hitting the post twice.
The intense later match between the College and Ghosts 1st teams was an instant classic. The College stormed to an early 3–0 lead, but the Ghosts responded brilliantly, surging back to lead 5–3 at halftime. Despite a late College fightback, they held on for an 8–6 victory in a high-quality, end-to-end encounter.
Netball
The Netball fixture was a great success in terms of turnout and enthusiasm. Although Ghosts captain Claudia Cilleruelo Pascual (2020 Mathematics) rallied an alumni team that was 14 strong, the College team’s impressive height advantage proved too much for the Ghosts (the exact score shall remain unpublished!).
We had the pleasure to hear from Claudia in the bar after the games:
Claudia Cilleruelo Pascual and Rosie Wrigglesworth with The CW Shield
“Sport is more than just a game. It teaches commitment, celebrates competitiveness and builds camaraderie. Some of the closest people in my life were on the court, or playing in the men’s football game. Ghosts isn’t just about an annual tournament, it is about maintaining a network of people who understand the power of sport, and who can support each other.
It is a real honour to be serving as the netball Ghosts captain and, to show you we’re here to stay, Rosie and I have bought a netball Ghosts shield, which we have humbly named ‘The CW shield’ after we realised that Cilleruelo Wrigglesworth did not roll off the tongue.
Let’s keep growing. Let’s keep showing up.”
The Festival of Sports is a reminder of the lasting bonds within the Keble sporting community. With victories, near misses, and retirement to Hall for a celebratory curry, it was a day filled with competition, laughter, and memories – both old and new.
Here’s to next year, and to the Ghosts returning once again, trophy-hungry and full of heart. Mark the date in your diary: the Festival of Sports will be back on Saturday 25 April 2026.
